Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story described Warner Bros. as Kid Rock's label. Warner Music Group is his merchandising company.

Also, a statement released by Kid Rock indicates that while he has new music on the way, he has "no plans for an album or anything else that has been the usual norm in the music business." The story has been updated to reflect that distinction.

First, a caveat: Anything is possible in the circus where politics meets rock ‘n’ roll.

But it’s worth pumping the brakes on chatter about a Kid Rock run for office — and the prospect that a Sen. Robert Ritchie of Romeo will soon be representing his home state in Congress.

Rock sparked national buzz in political and entertainment spheres Wednesday when he directed fans to the website KidRockForSenate.com. Many media, public and political types instantly took the URL at face value and concluded: He’s throwing his hat in the ring.

There are plenty of reasons they shouldn’t think that.

Some initial confusion was understandable. Rock’s name has been among those casually bandied about by Michigan Republicans as they look ahead to the 2018 elections hoping to grab the seat held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

But Rock has always been a master marketer of his musical wares, going back to his days as a little-known indie artist in Detroit. Few have proved smarter at the art of hustling and playing with people’s imaginations. This is a guy, after all, who would concoct fake VIP areas for himself at local clubs — velvet ropes, “bodyguards” and all — to draw attention to his music and brand.

Rock hasn’t registered to run in Michigan’s upcoming Republican primaries, as the Free Press already reported, and the new website links to a Kid Rock merchandise site run by Warner Music Group.

And it’s important to understand: If Rock really were trying to get himself to Capitol Hill in 16 months, he’d have a whole lot of distracting commitments to plow through on the way.

Because here’s what we know about the Detroit rocker’s immediate future:

He’s got a new music coming down the pike, the delayed follow-up to First Kiss. After originally shooting for a 2016 release, Rock continued working on the project — at one point even scrapping much of the existing material and starting from scratch, according to sources close to the musician. He has spent the past year burrowed in Nashville finishing the record.

The delay took Kid Rock out of the two-year working cycle that long marked his career: release an album and tour for a year, lay low the next year, repeat. Having toured in 2015, he'd have been out on the road this summer if the initial release plan had stuck. As it stands, a tour in support of the new music would mean heading out later this year or in 2018.

There are some other big public engagements already sitting on Kid Rock’s agenda.

Among them is a very important run in September, when he’ll inaugurate Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena with a six-night concert stand. (He’ll also be warming up with a Sept. 6 show in Grand Rapids.) Rock flew in to Detroit on Wednesday for rehearsals with his Twisted Brown Trucker band.

Also on tap is the third annual Kid Rock’s Fish Fry in October in Fontanel, Tenn. Tickets are on sale for the weekend country carnival, which will feature daily performances by Rock “plus all the down home party antics you could hope for in a party hosted by the man himself,” as the event promotion puts it.

And April will bring his ninth Chillin’ the Most Cruise, the annual seafaring expedition that amounts to a five-day full-time party for Rock and a few thousand of his closest fans. Notably, details about the 2018 cruise were announced just days ago.

There’s no doubt Kid Rock has a keen interest in politics. He’s been an outspoken observer for years, and he actively backed the presidential candidacies of Mitt Romney in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016. In April, he and fellow Michigan rocker Ted Nugent grabbed global headlines as surprise White House dinner guests.

But even if Michigan's Republicans want him right now, Kid Rock seems to have a different sort of party in mind for the year ahead. Just don’t be surprised if KidRockForSenate.com soon hits you with a campaign that’s very much about showbiz — and very little about speeches or shaking hands.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Actor, athlete, comedian, talk show host and astronaut ... All have run for congressional seats. Why not a rapper from Detroit? Kid Rock has expressed an interest.
Here he performs during halftime at Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004, at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
Jeff Haynes, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Kid Rock, in his home studio north of Detroit in 2009, has sold millions of records. He's a five-time Grammy nominee and received the 2001 favorite pop/rock male artist
American Music Award.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

A lot of deals are made on the golf course... A shirtless Kid Rock putts on the 17th hole during the Pro Am event June 25, 2008, at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.
Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Kid Rock acknowledges the audience during the NAACP's fundraising dinner in Detroit May 1, 2011, with Anthony at his left. The musician accepted the branch's Great Expectations Award.
Carlos Osorio, AP

Controversy, however, surrounds the artist's appreciation of the Confederate battle flag. Protest leader Adolph Mongo holds a flag as it burns outside the dinner where the NAACP was honoring Rock in 2011.
Carlos Osorio, AP

The singer leans over to talk to the judge through a speaker as he appears in Night Court on Feb. 16, 2005, in Nashville. Rock was arrested on charges that he punched a disc jockey at an adult entertainment club. He pleaded guilty and later was sued by the DJ.
Mark Humphrey, AP

A soldier takes a photo of himself and Kid Rock after a concert at a helicopter hangar at Baghdad International Airport on June 19, 2003. Seven thousand howling U.S. soldiers sweated and gyrated through an electric USO show as a gaggle of American celebrities competed for their attention.
Mikhail Metzel, AP